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I’m willing to bet…

…very few of you PDITF readers work in the financial sector. I sure as heck don’t! People often think that I must have some type of financial credentials (business degree, work in financial sector, etc) to write about money. In reality, all of my “financial wisdom” (or lack thereof) comes from observation and personal finance books/blogs.

Wanna know a little secret? I began college an accounting major, and after taking my first economics course, realized I would be absolutely miserable being a business man (no offense to you business minded folks). If you’ve been following me for a while, you know my degree is in Psychology, which last time I checked, was not at all related to finances in any way, shape, or form.

Not only does my degree have NOTHING to do with finances, but my work is also far from it. People often ask if I have any desire to become a financial adviser. Wanna know the truth? Hell to the No. There is a difference between a hobby and a career. I’m a Special Agent by day, blogger by night 🙂

Yes, I do enjoy learning about personal finances. Heck, I even enjoy sharing with other people (you included) my opinions on how financial success can best be achieved. But let me be clear… I have ABSOLUTELY no desire to earn an income by managing people’s money for them.

I’m a huge advocate of personal responsibility. I like to encourage people, and remind them that they can manage their money on their own, often without third party help. In fact, I like to pretend my lack of financial education or career, motivates people like you to get your money issues worked out. I’m hoping you can relate to my story and become equally motivated!

So I took a gamble and bet the majority of you have no “expertise” in a financially related field. Am I wrong? What is your degree in and what field do you work in? Why do you come to my site and read my stuff knowing I have no credentials? Is it for my crazy drawings, or do you actually learn something every now and again?

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24 COMMENTS

  1. I am a life long (26 years worth anyways) student of finance, history, and physics 🙂 I am a commercial banker for a local community bank. Aside from developing interesting personal relationships with company leaders, I spend a majority of my job studying financial statements and trying to relate them to real world assumptions. I enjoy it greatly.

    It should be noted that behavorial finance and behavorial economics is a very strong and important piece of the money puzzle. I could relate psychology to any aspect of finance if you ask, but in my world it goes like this: two things are required to have a successful credit relationship (1) the borrower must have the ability to pay – this encompasses financial analysis among other things; and (2) the borrower must have the willingness to pay – this is largely psychological. How will the borrower handle set backs or manage change etc…?

    I read your blog because it is a window into general public's behavorial finance mind. I also enjoy learning by teaching; and I find opportunities to do that in your posts occassionally.

    Thanks for asking, I look forward to reading more.

  2. I'm currently working towards my B-Comm w/ an accounting major. I settled on that after a variety of jobs because accounting so far is what I like best.. however I'm not planning on being an accountant. I work for the govt in the finance and plan on just working my way up from there.

    I mostly read your posts because they're entertaining and don't take themselves too seriously I guess.

  3. I develop financial proposals for government contracting – which is corporate finance related, not personal…my undergrad degree was in English – but wasn't very useful when I came onto the job market, so I worked 2 years then got my MBA with a focus on finance/economics. I read your posts because you're entertaining, semi-educational and yes, the drawings do help!

  4. I am a business major and currently work in the insurance field. I love visiting your blog to see what the heck you've drawn this time and because it's not the same old boring finance talk.

  5. I majored in Spanish and work in commercial banking as a supervisor. I mainly spend my days managing admins ands creating reports to show departmental profitability. Number crunchers by day and blogger by night I guess
    .-= Challenger debt´s most recent blog ..Ladies and Gentlemen =-.

  6. My B.A. is in history (The British Empire, specifically) and I'm a seamstress and do web design.

    I pop in because it's more entertaining that the usual regurgitated drivel I see on many personal finance blogs.

  7. First time commenter here. I'm a Classics ("Greek and Roman stuff") major, but work in the financial sector (specifically, venture capital). I agree with ImAfuziPlatypus – I think your psychology degree has more to do with finance than you might think. If personal finance were purely rational and objective, it would be easy to do. Instead, personal finance is more like 60+% psychology and the rest math/finance.

  8. I have a degree in computer science and math. Now I am a stay-at-home/homeschool mom/wife. I read your blog because it is motivating and personal. I enjoy the personal story to go along with the financial information. We have been debt free for most of our marriage, but now I feel we need to be more intentional with our money. We should be closer to retirement and educational goals than we are. Your blog is helping me keep our family motivated.

  9. I too have a psych degree as my username may have betrayed. and I agree with others that psychology has a lot to do with PF. I love my job because I'm fascinated with others' behaviours, and I think that's why I like blogs so much. You share how you see and handle finances in an entertaining way (the drawings give me a giggle) and this keeps my eye on the prize to keep my money in order.

  10. I have a degree in marketing and found your website while briefly working for a financial advisor… I keep reading it because (1) it's hilarious and (2) it helps me stay accountable to personal financial goals. 🙂

  11. PS: I went to a networking event last night and we had to put either pirate or ninja on our nametags. No brainer!

  12. I have always been fascinated with personal finance and actually worked as a personal banker for several years in a bank. I hated my job. The sales pressure was insane and a lot of people did not want to take personal responsibility in regards to their finances. I now am a stay-at-home mom and still continue to educate myself in the area of personal finance not because I plan to go back to work in that field after my kids are in school but for my own personal knowledge and education. I enjoy reading your blog as you are hilarious and you talk about my favorite topic – money!

  13. I have a BA in Art History and a JD. I worked for a credit card issuer for many years before I went to law school. In my final position there, I worked in cash channels for loyalty marketing. I was, essentially, the devil. I was the one marketing to people and saying, here, use your card at the ATM. Better yet, take it into your bank and get cash. Since it was not yet modern times like these, I was also in charge of our online balance transfer system, which was in its infant state at that stage. If anyone thinks lawyers are immoral swindlers, I can tell you that I am rebuilding my career karma now.

    My interest in money started because I really liked spending it. Typically with my friendly credit cards. Then, when my debt mountain hit $166,000, I realized that it was time for a reality check and here we are. Now I am on the right path and beating up debt is my favorite hobby.

  14. I have a Ph.D. in English and currently work as a technical writer and designer of computer-based learning presentations. I saw a reference to your website on Frank Curmudgeon's blog and find your commentary entertaining.

  15. I'm an investment consultant, giving advice to endowments and foundations on how to invest their money. As far as credentials, I'm a chartered alternative investment analyst and spent three years performing due diligence on private equity funds (buyouts and venture capital).

    As several earlier readers commented, I think that the behavioral component of finance is fascinating and increasingly important. I started out college with a psychology major before flipping over to the business side. I enjoy the humor on your blog and have always been partial to ninjas, though there were times that pirates seemed a good alternative… the grass is always greener, I suppose.

  16. My program was journalism, and I've worked in the real estate / title industry for seven years. Journalism is a hobby now (certainly won't pay the bills!), and I have a couple blogs that preoccupy that obsession. I decided to drop out of journalism school when the industry tanked. Best money decision EVER made.

    I read your blog because you're awesome. Duh.

  17. I majored in Creative Writing, but I work as a a corporate tax analyst. Being able to file corporate tax returns doesn't make anyone inherently good with money. PF is a commitment. I like your site because you has piktures.

    P.S. Who would win in a fight? Ninja from PDITF or Financial Samurai?

    (The correct answer is pirates.)

  18. First degree: International Banking and Finance, second degree: Audio Engineering. Go figure.

    I'm here for the awesome drawings. 🙂

  19. Bachelor's is in Politics, and I have a JD. My minor was Economics though. While I have no direct finance knowledge, my field of law requires me to review client's budgets, and it's quite terrifying how many people are perpetually in the red and have no idea. Another attorney who used to work here said she didn't budget because there was no need because they never overdrafted their accounts. Hmmm, but you have credit card debt of $50,000, and you think you don't have a problem? Really?!?!?! That's when I got ultra-serious about my debt.

    I love the drawings!

  20. I have a Bachelor's degree in Applied Human Nutrition and a community college certificate as a Pharmacy Assistant. I currently work as an auditor for a benefits management company…I audit the online prescription claims for accuracy, etc.
    I like your blog because you're not an expert, I think. I enjoy seeing how the average joe/jane is keeping his/her finances in check. I often learn more from personal finance bloggers than from so-called financial experts.
    And your drawings are pretty fun too.

  21. B.S. in physics. In May I'll have an Ed.M. in science education. Come September, I'll be a middle or high school science teacher, God willing.

    I understand that academic and professional credentials don't necessarily correlate with wisdom. Not that I believe you're a constant source of what is True and Right (and certainly not to the contrary). But there are a couple things I like about your blog:

    + You share your personal life – which makes you more of a real person. And I'd rather listen a person than a robot any day.
    + Your recurring mention of small supplemental income have made private tutoring and babysitting viable opportunities that I haven't from seizing. (Strategic craigslist ads & mentioning what your willing to do to family friends are great to find these gigs.)
    + The clarity you have with your budget made it seem feasible for me to have the same. Now I'm using this budgeting tool (http://docs.google.com/previewtemplate?id=0As3tAu… to plan for the year.

    Thanks!

  22. BS in Civil Engineering here! I basically love anything that has to do with numbers…or Excel. I love to keep track of everything (gas mileage, calories, miles, money, etc). Maybe its an obsession.

    I sarted reading your blog for the name actually. I threaten to punch people in the face a lot. 🙂 I got hooked when you talked about punching Sallie Mae in the face, which I did successfully. Now I'm hooked and I can't stop reading!

  23. I have a Bachelor's in Public Communication and Political Science. I work at a PR agency focused on education so no direct financial connection, but its definitely a positive that I'm good at math.

    Ironically, I carved a niche for myself in the company as the go-to person for budgeting on projects while being completely oblivious about my finances. Luckily, I woke up and paid off the $2500 on credit cards, saved about $12K, and paid down about $2K on my student loans in a year and a half.

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